14-year term in toddler assault

Sexual assault on 3-year-old girl called 'brutal' during sentencing.

Sexual assault on 3-year-old girl called 'brutal' during sentencing.

April 28, 2007|CAROL DRAEGER Tribune Staff Writer

CASSOPOLIS -- A Constantine man recently convicted of beating and sexually assaulting a toddler seven years ago will spend at least 14 years in prison. "Horrible injuries were inflicted on a helpless child," Judge Michael Dodge told Joshua Wray Williams during the 24-year-old's sentencing hearing Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jason Ronning described hospital photos of the 3-year-old girl's "brutal" attack as "terrible photographs." "In my four years here (in the prosecutor's office), this is the worst assault I've ever seen," Ronning told Dodge. Last month during a three-day jury trial, Williams was found guilty of two counts of first- degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a penalty of possible life in prison, Ronning said. Dodge recounted court testimony that revealed that Williams, 17 at the time, beat the 3-year-old victim while he baby-sat the girl and her younger sister in January of 2000. Dodge explained what a doctor said during Williams' trial. The girl was "severely beaten throughout her body. Her eyes were beaten almost shut," Dodge said. She not only had black eyes, and bruises on her ears and neck, she was also sexually assaulted twice and had a cigarette burn on her backside. The victim's family, including her father and at least four young children, sat quietly in the back of the courtroom. The victim, now 10, bravely spoke before Williams was sentenced. Holding her father's hand as she walked to the front of the courtroom, the girl said in a strong voice: "Joshua is so, so, so bad because of what he did. Now that he is in jail, I don't have anymore bad dreams." Williams' attorney, Victor Bland, pointed out that the incident occurred seven years ago and that his client, who has no criminal record, was working and raising a child when the case was brought to trial. "I think he can be rehabilitated," Bland said. He asked Dodge to impose the low end of the 11- to 18- year prison range that Williams' presentencing guidelines called for. During the trial, Williams denied the allegations and said he didn't remember the incident, according to Ronning. On both counts, Dodge sentenced Williams to a minimum of 14 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison with credit for 189 days already served. The sentences will be served concurrently. It was not immediately clear why seven years lapsed before the case was prosecuted. Staff writer Carol Draeger: cdraeger@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7005